Contemporary Arts Practice Staffordshire University

Overview

The Contemporary Arts Practice MA at Staffordshire University offers a transformative environment for practitioners to evolve their creative production into meaningful public encounters. This programme encourages students to act as citizen-artists, addressing social and physical environments through critical thinking and innovative artistic discourse.

Why Contemporary Arts Practice at Staffordshire University?

Students benefit from individual studio spaces on the Stoke-on-Trent campus and access to the Smart Zone, a centre for innovation featuring digital and immersive technologies. The university provides specialist technical facilities, including ceramic 3D printers and workshops for metal, wood, and resin. You will be mentored by a teaching team of internationally recognised artists and researchers, gaining opportunities to engage with communities in both Stoke-on-Trent and London through fieldwork and professional residencies.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: GBP 16750 per year
• National fee: GBP 9165 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is built upon practice-based research, providing the theoretical foundations necessary for a robust professional practice. Modules may include:

• Connected Practices
• Contexts Of Contemporary Practice
• Critical Discourses
• Encounters
• Dimensions Of Contemporary Practice
• Contemporary Practice Final Project

Careers with Contemporary Arts Practice

Graduates are prepared for diverse roles within the creative industries and public sectors. The programme develops industry-relevant skills in creative project management and budget oversight, supporting paths into curatorial practices, public art, and arts education. Potential career destinations include:

• Project Manager
• Cultural Manager
• Arts and Engagement Officer
• Urban Planner
• Landscape Architect
• Art Writer

The course also provides a strong foundation for those wishing to pursue further academic research at PhD level, particularly through the development of conference paper abstracts and advanced research methodologies.